Bathinda: The Central University of Punjab and five other esteemed higher education institutions from North India have come together to sign an MoU for academic collaboration and resource-sharing. The primary objective of this collaboration is to facilitate the comprehensive implementation of NEP-2020 through a Consortium mode. The signing of the MoU took place in the august presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Education Minister. Dr. Subhas Sarkar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Education, and Shri K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary, Higher Education, also graced the occasion with their presence. The signing ceremony occurred on 29th July 2023, coinciding with the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of NEP-2020 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The consortium has been named 'Consortium of Higher Educational Institutions of North India (CHEINI).'
This Consortium is a joint venture of Central University of Jammu, Central University of Haryana, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Central University of Punjab, Central University of Rajasthan and Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar.
This is a groundbreaking initiative that will pave the way for offering joint degree programs, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs. Additionally, it will facilitate joint research projects, particularly focusing on issues relevant to the region (vocal for local). The collaboration will encompass various aspects, such as joint publications, credit transfers under the academic bank of credits, multiple-entry-exit options, exchange programs for faculty and students, and the sharing of resources, including instrumental facilities and other learning resources. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is, in fact, a win-win situation for the faculty and students of all six higher education institutions (HEIs).
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Education Minister, appreciated this initiative of the partnering institutions and expressed hope that these academic collaborations would foster the implementation of NEP-2020 more effectively.
Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor of CU Punjab, Prof. Tankseshwar Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of CU Haryana, Prof. Anand Bhalerao, Vice-Chancellor of CU Rajasthan, Prof. S. P Bansal, Vice-Chancellor of CU Himachal Pradesh, and Prof. Sanjeev Jain, Vice-Chancellor of CU Jammu, are the signatories to the MoU.
While signing the MoU, the member HEIs of the Consortium expressed their unwavering commitment to fully implement the reforms envisioned in NEP-2020. The aim is to transform the learning system and empower the youth of the nation with holistic development and 21st-century global skills, aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat put forth by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Furthermore, the Heads of the partnering institutions of the Consortium have decided to meet on 26th August 2023 at CU Punjab, Bathinda, to prepare a roadmap for the successful implementation of the objectives outlined in this MoU. They also expressed their eagerness to explore possibilities of involving other higher education institutions (HEIs) from the region to join the Consortium, thereby making it more comprehensive and broad-based.